Balenciaga, the master of haute couture
Balenciaga, the master of haute couture
The work of Cristóbal Balenciaga has become a rich history of haute couture, and said history is preserved today as one of the great heritages of the Basque Country. Said designer’s firm is known worldwide, as is evidenced by his thirty shops spread over the five continents. But the real essence of the man is preserved in a unique and exclusive way by the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum located in Getaria, his hometown.
This space, which opened eight years ago at the initiative of the Cristóbal Balenciaga Foundation, displays –through various exhibitions– the contributions that the couturier made to the world of fashion. Throughout these eight years, the gallery has had the chance to host important events, such as the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first business created by Balenciaga in San Sebastian (which was last year), as well as the 80th anniversary of his establishment in Paris.
The rooms that make up the museum hold a legacy of more than 3,000 pieces –including clothing, accessories, documents, and patterns– that symbolize and reflect the line of work of this famous couturier. These are pieces that showcase techniques and achievements that have become an identity and reference in the global fashion sector.
In March of 2019, a new exhibition will be inaugurated that will occupy the six main rooms of the museum, consisting of a diachronic recount of how the couturier’s work evolved over the different stages of his life. The exhibition aims to become a leading display to help us to understand and get to know, in depth, the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga: where he came from, what he contributed with in his time, and what he transmits to us today. The chronological, comprehensive, and contextualized discourse –constructed from the perspective of heritage in terms of the museum collection on which the exhibition is based– can be conceived as an open, living, and growing proposal which will gradually include new layers of knowledge and the possibilities offered by new technologies in the future.
Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum
AldamarParkea 6, Getaria.
